Villa's boss

Villa's boss

Your editorial on the coalition's higher education proposals (29 June) included one revealing phrase: "the stick of competition comes alongside a carrot". This sums up our government's view of human nature: they assume that in every aspect of our lives we are motivated solely by the expectation of material gain or the threat of deprivation. What about values such as solidarity, respect, trust, honesty and professionalism, which must surely be at the heart of their vaunted "big society"?

Hugo Radice

Leyburn, North Yorkshire

• Peter Preston makes some interesting points about the Dutch attitude to risk while cycling (Comment, 27 June). Last year I cycled from The Hague to Szczecin in Poland. I estimate that about 80% of the journey was on dedicated cycle paths. The only Dutch people I saw wearing helmets were young children. Last month I was knocked from my bike by a motorist in Sheffield, where there are hardly any dedicated cycling lanes. This is why people like me wear helmets while riding our bicycles.

John Korzeniewski

Hope Valley, Derbyshire

• I worked at Marylebone magistrates' court for three years (Letters, 1 July). The defendants, staff and junior legal advisers generally pronounced it Marry-l'bone, while lawyers, senior legal advisors and magistrates invariably opted for Marley-bone. Dieu et mon droit?

Chris Rogers

Edgware, Middlesex

• My dream of Waterstone's (Letters, 30 June) is an exciting interesting selection of books sold by committed, knowledgable booksellers, comfy armchairs and good coffee. Oh no, that was the Borders which used to be three doors down.

Martin Price

Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan

• In the light of past correspondence on nominative determinism: with Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager, and Mancini at Man City, shouldn't Villas-Boas have been appointed Villa's boss, not Chelsea's (Sport, 30 June)?